Beginning this Sunday (December 4), folks can head to Best Buy and get big savings on an Axon 7 Mini from ZTE. Typically priced at $299, you can purchase the device in Ion Gold or Platinum Grey for just $249, which is $50 off. The Axon 7 Mini is the little brother to the Axon […]

Beginning this Sunday (December 4), folks can head to Best Buy and get big savings on an Axon 7 Mini from ZTE. Typically priced at $299, you can purchase the device in Ion Gold or Platinum Grey for just $249, which is $50 off.

A new model of the Axon 7 from ZTE is available this week, featuring updated internals, but the same overall design of the original. Inside, ZTE has bumped up the on-board RAM to 6GB from 4GB, as well as the storage to 128GB up from 64GB. For this increase, ZTE is pricing the enhanced Axon […]

A new model of the Axon 7 from ZTE is available this week, featuring updated internals, but the same overall design of the original. Inside, ZTE has bumped up the on-board RAM to 6GB from 4GB, as well as the storage to 128GB up from 64GB. For this increase, ZTE is pricing the enhanced Axon 7 at $499, up from the standard $399.

Right in time for the holiday shopping season, the Axon 7 Mini from ZTE is no longer available for pre-order, but ready for you to purchase through Amazon, Best Buy, and other outlets. Priced at just $299, the Axon 7 Mini is quite a device, although, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s mini. Featuring a 5.2″ Full HD […]

Right in time for the holiday shopping season, the Axon 7 Mini from ZTE is no longer available for pre-order, but ready for you to purchase through Amazon, Best Buy, and other outlets. Priced at just $299, the Axon 7 Mini is quite a device, although, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s mini.

We have an Axon 7 Mini in-house at last, so to kick off any type of review process, let’s unbox it. After you are done watching, if you are interested in taking one for a spin, we have added the retailer links below.

ZTE unveiled the Axon 7 Mini in early September, and finally, the device is up for pre-order through many online retailers. Much like the full-size Axon 7 in terms of design, ZTE is packing premium specs into a very inexpensive $300 package. The Axon 7 Mini features a 5.2″ Full HD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 617 processor, 16-megapixel […]

ZTE unveiled the Axon 7 Mini in early September, and finally, the device is up for pre-order through many online retailers. Much like the full-size Axon 7 in terms of design, ZTE is packing premium specs into a very inexpensive $300 package.

As for the experience you can expect, the device runs a somewhat stock Android OS, meaning no crazy skin you have to learn to use. Additionally, the dual front-facing speakers should sound pretty sweet, with ZTE marketing them with the line, “highest quality audio experience available in smartphones today.”

The phone sounds promising.

According to Best Buy’s listing, the phone should begin shipping later this month. Make note, the Gold model is exclusive to Best Buy, while the Silver model can be pre-ordered at any other outlet.

At IFA, ZTE has announced the Axon 7 Mini, essentially a smaller Axon 7 device. Incorporating many of the features and design of the Axon 7, ZTE is offering a more compact experience to those who were thinking about the Axon 7. As for what the Axon 7 Mini offers, ZTE is championing the device’s […]

At IFA, ZTE has announced the Axon 7 Mini, essentially a smaller Axon 7 device. Incorporating many of the features and design of the Axon 7, ZTE is offering a more compact experience to those who were thinking about the Axon 7. As for what the Axon 7 Mini offers, ZTE is championing the device’s audio capabilities, stating that they worked with different audio associations to deliver the “highest quality audio experience available in smartphones today.”

ZTE has yet to make official US availability known, but for those in Russia, Germany, Spain, Poland, Japan, Australia, India, and Saudi Arabia, expect to see the device at the end of September at a retail price of €299. For the US, we will keep you posted when ZTE makes pricing and release known.

Elite h4x0rs, ZTE and its new Axon 7 might just be the company and phone for you. After apparently hearing you voice deep desires for an unlockable bootloader, the company says that it will make that an available option for those “with a high level of technical expertise” and who have “had experience flashing custom ROMs.” […]

Elite h4x0rs, ZTE and its new Axon 7 might just be the company and phone for you. After apparently hearing you voice deep desires for an unlockable bootloader, the company says that it will make that an available option for those “with a high level of technical expertise” and who have “had experience flashing custom ROMs.” I’m not kidding, the email they sent actually says that bit about flashing ROMs.

In order to unlock the bootloader on your Axon 7 (this is a US-only thing from what we can tell), you are going to have to request an unlock from ZTE. You will be able to do that from a special “Developer sub-forum from within the Axon forums. That should go live here at some point.

It should be noted that unlocking the bootloader will 100% void your device warranty. So yeah, ZTE is doing something in allowing you to unlock the bootloader of the phone, but that doesn’t mean they will be on the hook for any of it any longer once you do that. Think about that for a second.

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2016/08/10/zte-will-unlock-axon-7-bootloader/feed/40ZTE Axon 7 Now Up for Pre-Order in the US at $399http://www.droid-life.com/2016/07/13/zte-axon-7-release-date-specs-price/
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/07/13/zte-axon-7-release-date-specs-price/#commentsWed, 13 Jul 2016 16:33:16 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=188902

The ZTE Axon 7, the latest affordable flagship from the Chinese manufacturer, is now available for pre-order in the US at a variety of retailers. With a starting price of $399, you certainly get a lot of bang for your buck here. As a recap, the Axon 7 was announced back in May with a […]

The ZTE Axon 7, the latest affordable flagship from the Chinese manufacturer, is now available for pre-order in the US at a variety of retailers. With a starting price of $399, you certainly get a lot of bang for your buck here.

As a recap, the Axon 7 was announced back in May with a somewhat mysterious launch time frame here in the States. It made headlines because not only did it offer a bunch of great specs at what we assumed would be an affordable price, but ZTE also made sure we knew that it was one of the first Daydream-ready phones.

In terms of specs, the Axon 7 basically has it all. You get a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 20MP f/1.8 rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), 8MP f/2.2 front camera, 3250mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0, USB Type-C port, dual speaker setup with a dual Hi-Fi chipset (Dolby Atmos surround sound), and a fingerprint reader. As for storage and RAM, ZTE is releasing two models, but the US is getting the version with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage with a microSD slot.

The phone should work fine on GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile.

While the pre-order is open today, the phone won’t ship until July 27.

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2016/07/13/zte-axon-7-release-date-specs-price/feed/53ZTE Announces the Flagship-Level, Affordable Axon 7, One of the First Daydream VR Phoneshttp://www.droid-life.com/2016/05/26/zte-announces-flagship-level-affordable-axon-7-one-first-daydream-vr-phones/
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/05/26/zte-announces-flagship-level-affordable-axon-7-one-first-daydream-vr-phones/#commentsThu, 26 May 2016 18:59:17 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=186880

ZTE took the wraps off its new flagship phone this morning, the Axon 7. The phone, like most ZTE phones, is being positioned as an unlocked phone with high-end specs and an affordable price. Unfortunately, ZTE isn’t ready to share specifics on the price, but they are revealing the specs, which are very much so […]

ZTE took the wraps off its new flagship phone this morning, the Axon 7. The phone, like most ZTE phones, is being positioned as an unlocked phone with high-end specs and an affordable price. Unfortunately, ZTE isn’t ready to share specifics on the price, but they are revealing the specs, which are very much so in the incredibly high-end category.

The ZTE Axon 7 features a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 820 processor, 20MP f/1.8 rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), 8MP f/2.2 front camera, 3250mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0, USB Type-C port, dual speaker setup with a dual Hi-Fi chipset (Dolby Atmos surround sound), and fingerprint reader. As for storage and RAM, ZTE is releasing two models, one with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, along with another that has 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Each model also has a microSD slot.

See what I mean? That’s about as high-end as it gets.

Now, about that price. All ZTE will say is that there is “value” here and that the price will be lower than other flagship smartphones of today. That should mean a sub $500 price, but are you willing to get into a ZTE phone over something like the Nexus 6P to save $50 or so? I’ll let you decide on that.

As for availability, the Axon 7 hits China today and will then make its way to other markets, including the US, in the coming weeks. Once it arrives here, you will be able to buy it from zteusa.com, Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo, eBay, and Newegg. The Axon 7 will be available in either gold or silver.

Which carriers will it work on? Out of the box, it will for sure work on T-Mobile and AT&T, because of its GSM connectivity. However, ZTE says that it has the ability to work on both Sprint and Verizon. At this time, they aren’t guaranteeing that the phone will receive certification for use on those networks, only that it might “possibly” happen later in the year.

Along side the announcement of the Axon 7, ZTE announced that they created a VR headset to pair with it, since this phone is one of the first Google Daydream-ready devices. After looking at those specs and seeing that the Axon 7 sports a QHD AMOLED display, it makes sense that it would be ready for Google’s new VR platform.

It’s certainly a pretty phone with great specs and tons of potential. But again, can ZTE get your cash over someone like Google or HTC or even Samsung for that matter?

According to a report out of The Information, AT&T is looking into a Cyanogen-powered phone, because it thinks that Cyanogen could make a compelling Android-alternative option to its customers. That may be better put as, AT&T thinks that by partnering with Cyanogen, it can load up even more garbage bloatware on phones to help push you […]

According to a report out of The Information, AT&T is looking into a Cyanogen-powered phone, because it thinks that Cyanogen could make a compelling Android-alternative option to its customers. That may be better put as, AT&T thinks that by partnering with Cyanogen, it can load up even more garbage bloatware on phones to help push you into their other services, like DirecTV.

The entire report is actually quite comical if you stand back at a distance and insert “Amazon” where it says “Cyanogen.” I think you all remember the Fire Phone don’t you? It was an AT&T exclusive that aimed to cut out Google and weaken its control over Android, only to become one of the biggest flops in the history of consumer electronics. But hey, let’s look at what AT&T, Cyanogen, and apparently, ZTE, think a partnership could mean.

Today’s report suggests that AT&T is “snubbing” Google by partnering with Cyanogen and that if this phone were to sell, it could really put a damper on Google’s continued attempts at making an Apple-like “consistent experience across all Android phones.”

Of course, the key word, which we tastefully italicized above, is “if.” A big giant “IF,” because no company to date has been able to put a dent in what Google and Android bulldozed their way to some years ago. No offense to Cyanogen and ZTE, but does a scenario with those two, coupled with AT&T scream, “Industry changer!” to you?

So ZTE is the supposed hardware partner, though their involvement may have already been cut out since the US dropped the trade sanction hammer on them just this month, with allegations that they had tried to “illicitly re-export controlled items to Iran in violation of US export control laws.” That’s right, the Chinese company created a series of shell companies to try and hide the fact that they were supplying electronics to Iran, a country that is under trade embargo from the US. The plot was uncovered after documents of ZTE’s surfaced with not-so-subtle “TOP SECRET” and “HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL” markings blasted across them were found by US investigators.

But let’s say there is a plan B that involves another hardware manufacturer. The point of this Cyanogen-powered phone is to allow AT&T to push as much bloatware and garbage into a phone as you can possibly imagine, something Google probably won’t allow it to do, but Cyanogen certainly will, for theright price. That means deeply embedding DirecTV services into it, allowing Skype into the native dialer, and maybe even including visual voicemail at a system level. There is also talk of deeper Uber integration, along with Microsoft’s Cortana, Spotify, etc.

Take all of that in for a second.

Good?

OK, sell me on this being a good idea. Outside of this being a major step forward for Cyanogen, by getting their OS onto a US carrier for the first time, who else wins here? AT&T doesn’t benefit unless it sells millions upon millions of these and gets a major portion of the suckers who bought them to sign-up for DirecTV. Same with ZTE or whichever other borderline-US-trade-embargo-skirting manufacturer you want to throw in the mix.

And does anyone see that happening, AT&T selling millions upon millions of these? If Amazon couldn’t get you to buy their phone, a phone which included a free year of Amazon Prime, how is AT&T going to sell you on a phone made by a Chinese company you may not trust running a little known Android fork or skin or “OS?”

That sure doesn’t sound like something Google should be worried about. That sounds to me like three companies sat down at a table, decided on a theory to overtake big, bad evil Google, and then took their plans in an off-the-record format to try and grab some headlines and see a reaction. Good work!

ZTE announced two additional Axon devices this morning, giving buyers even more options when looking through ZTE’s current smartphone lineup. Joining the current Axon Pro 32GB model, there is a new 64GB model of the Axon Pro, and a mid-range Axon. Each device is priced quite competitively, with the Axon Pro 64GB priced at $449.98, and […]

ZTE announced two additional Axon devices this morning, giving buyers even more options when looking through ZTE’s current smartphone lineup. Joining the current Axon Pro 32GB model, there is a new 64GB model of the Axon Pro, and a mid-range Axon. Each device is priced quite competitively, with the Axon Pro 64GB priced at $449.98, and the Axon going for $329.98.

ZTE, the China-based OEM who does not hold too much of a marketing presence in the American market, announced a lease-to-own program for new smart device buyers this week. This program allows buyers of a ZTE device to pay for it over time, making devices more affordable. This program is usable on devices such as […]

ZTE, the China-based OEM who does not hold too much of a marketing presence in the American market, announced a lease-to-own program for new smart device buyers this week. This program allows buyers of a ZTE device to pay for it over time, making devices more affordable.

This program is usable on devices such as the Spro 2 Smart Projector and Axon Pro. Naturally, usage of this program will rely somewhat on credit score, and ZTE has implemented SmartPay, a way for wishful ZTE owners to receive immediate approval for the lease.

According to the the press release, “If approved, simply select the ZTE device you want, make your first payment at checkout and make scheduled monthly payments thereafter.”

If you would like to upgrade, and your lease is up-to-date on payments, simply return the device to SmartPay in good working order, which will cancel the lease. Then, go ahead and select a new device.

When signing up, the devices are purchased at the off-contract pricing, and will be available on ZTE’s US website “soon.”

ZTE Introduces New Lease-to-Own Option for Smartphones and Mobile Devices

ZTE customers can now get a mobile device and pay for it over time

Richardson, Texas – October 14, 2015 – ZTE USA, the fourth largest smartphone supplier in the U.S. and second largest in the no-contract market*, today introduced a lease-to-own payment plan for customers who want to pay for their phone or other mobile device over time and spread out their payments to make it more affordable. This lease-to-own payment option is provided through SmartPay ™ Leasing Inc. and will be available online for all customers beginning soon at www.zteusa.com.

Lease-to-own is available for unlocked devices such as the recently launched Axon Pro and other mobile devices such as the ZTE Spro 2 Smart Projector.

“We are introducing leasing options because we believe advanced mobile technology should be available to everyone. We also want the experience of purchasing and using a ZTE device to be easy for any consumer,” said Lixin Cheng, CEO and chairman of ZTE USA. “How customers want to pay versus the amount they are comfortable paying are equally important – and ZTE can provide the best of both worlds.”

Leasing options for credit scores of all types

With SmartPay, you can get an immediate approval to lease ZTE devices. If approved, simply select the ZTE device you want, make your first payment at checkout and make scheduled monthly payments thereafter**.

No long-term contracts

The length of a lease plan is determined when you apply and can range from 6 to 24 months. Once all payments are made, the lease is complete and you own the device. You can also pay off your lease early without any penalties or future fees***.

Upgrade your phone when ready

If you’re up-to-date on your monthly payments you can cancel your lease at any time and upgrade your device by simply returning your current device in good working order to SmartPay. Once your phone is received your lease is cancelled and you’re free to get the new device you want.

**$0 to 25% of your lease amount could be due when you complete checkout, a debit card is required.

***BuyOut Fees from 3.5% to 20% may apply depending on the lease-to-own payment plan you qualified for. This option is not available in NJ, MN, WI, and WY. Customers in NJ, MN, WI, and WY are offered a 12 month lease plan which renews annually. Your lease plan may be cancelled at any time. An early termination fee may be applied. You cannot own leased items in NJ, MN, WI, and WY. Instead you can cancel your lease at the end of the term, or you can renew at a lower cost.

Now that Android 6.0 Marshmallow factory images are available and over-the-air (OTA) updates are rolling out slowly, what do you say we play a little future predicting? Google, as is always the case (except for that one time Motorola was on top of it), pushes updates to its Nexus line-up first, but after that, it’s […]

Many of the big manufacturers have to get updates ready for their skins (Samsung, LG, HTC, etc.), while others just need time to make sure all is working well enough with their add-ons (Motorola). Of course, there are carrier barriers here that add time to the process, along with companies having to find the resources needed to work on update testing. In the past, we have seen companies lay out schedules for delivery, while others often shock is with how quickly (or slowly) they get these things ready.

So today, we want to know who you think is going to be first to push an official Marshmallow update (Edit: Outside of Nexus devices, folks. Come on.)? In the poll below, we went with the big guys, but did list an “Other” category as a catch-all for those not listed.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Note: Every year, OpenSignal publishes an Android Fragmentation Report, detailing a few conceptions about the relationship between how many different devices there are on the market to how this makes developing for Android more difficult. Everything from OS fragmentation to screen size fragmentation is measured, but in actuality, Google has released countless tools for developers to […]

Note: Every year, OpenSignal publishes an Android Fragmentation Report, detailing a few conceptions about the relationship between how many different devices there are on the market to how this makes developing for Android more difficult. Everything from OS fragmentation to screen size fragmentation is measured, but in actuality, Google has released countless tools for developers to minimize any hardship there is to get an app working on any and all supported Android devices. Long story short, we enjoy these reports for the pretty graphs detailing all of the phones, not the misleading talk on how Android is a fragmented mess and is scaring developers away. Enjoy.

Fragmentation is an interesting word to Android users. It used to represent how bad Android was with regard to OS updates and app development, but it’s really just the nature of having a free OS available to any OEM that wants to use it. Yes, Google does its best at making updates readily available for OEMs who want to implement them, and powering developers with tools to create the best apps they can regardless of a device’s screen size, but according to the latest Android Fragmentation Report posted by OpenSignal, there is still a long ways to go.

Disclosed in their findings, over the span of a year from August 2014 to August 2015, over 24,000 different Android devices can access Google Play and download apps, making application optimization a possible struggle for developers. In 2013, there was only about 12,000 devices, meaning “fragmentation” has doubled in just two years. The above graph allows us to visualize just how complex of an ecosystem we are working with. At the top, we have Samsung with the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy S5 holding a substantial amount of the smartphone market. Currently, Samsung accounts for nearly 40% of the Android smartphone market.

Going beyond the device fragmentation, “Brand Fragmentation” is also a subject OpenSignal touches on. As detailed in the graph, there are nearly 1,300 distinct Android manufacturers, with Samsung owning the majority, and LG, Sony, Motorola, as well as HTC filling out the field. In 2012, Samsung held nearly 50% of the total market, but thanks to hundred of competitors now in emerging markets creating mid-range devices, Samsung’s number has been drawn back quite a bit to under 40%.

Of course, what good would an Android Fragmentation Report be if there was no detailed comparison to iOS. The iOS chart shows there is basically only two version of iOS to choose from, iOS 7 and iOS 8, while on the other hand, Android has nine versions currently running in the free world. Just as we saw in the latest Android Distribution numbers, Kit Kat remains on top, running on 39% of phones, with Lollipop (the latest and greatest version of Android), running on just 18% of phones.

These graphs may seem complex, and even a little scary, but as an Android fan, the one thing I enjoy most about Google’s mobile OS is the freedom of choice I have to choose whichever device suits me best. There are the high-end devices, mid-range devices, and entry-level phones, with every possible option in between, meaning that no matter your income level, where you live, or your lifestyle, there is an Android device that likely suits all of your needs and wants.

This week, a new device is available from ZTE on Boost Mobile, called the Boost Max+. The Max+ features a 5.7″ HD IPS display, powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM. Available on Boost Mobile’s website for $200 off-contract, the phone also features a 8MP rear-facing camera, 16GB of onboard storage, LTE […]

This week, a new device is available from ZTE on Boost Mobile, called the Boost Max+. The Max+ features a 5.7″ HD IPS display, powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM. Available on Boost Mobile’s website for $200 off-contract, the phone also features a 8MP rear-facing camera, 16GB of onboard storage, LTE connectivity, 3,400mAh battery, and Android 5.1 out of the box.

As you can see in the header image above, the phone appears rather thin, although, on the frontside, we can also see capacitive keys made in the Kit Kat styling. With the phone launching with Android 5.1, keys made with updated Lollipop styling would have been a nice touch.

As of right now, the only color available appears to be the Champagne Gold model.

Folks can head over to Boost Mobile’s website and purchase the device right now, priced at $199.

ZTE announced a new smartphone called Axon this afternoon, scheduled to hit the US market very soon. Now, brace yourselves, as this phone may leave you somewhat breathless once you hear what specifications it is packing. For starters, it features a 5.5″ WQHD display (2560 x 1440), Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, Android 5.1, dual […]

ZTE announced a new smartphone called Axon this afternoon, scheduled to hit the US market very soon. Now, brace yourselves, as this phone may leave you somewhat breathless once you hear what specifications it is packing. For starters, it features a 5.5″ WQHD display (2560 x 1440), Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, Android 5.1, dual rear-facing cameras (13MP + 2MP and 4K shooting capability), and a 3,000mAh battery. And yes, this phone actually exists, unlike those “dream phones” you see on Kickstarter and Indiegogo.

The Axon is available in three colors – Phthalo Blue, Ion Gold, and Chromium. Priced at just $449, some may think this device is simply too good to be true, but don’t worry yourself, it is available right now for pre-order on ZTE’s website, and will soon hit Amazon, Newegg, and eBay. And, when you pre-order, a free clear TPU case is included.